Dying my hair after chemotherapy allowed me to be myself

My camera roll has hundreds of photos, which may seem like the musings of someone who never turns down a selfie. But if you look closely, the subject of these countless photos is my hair. You might think I’m a stylist’s dream. They are constantly cutting and coloring, and each change brings back cool memories. But in reality, my collection is a reminder of what I’ve lost and how far I have to go to feel like myself again.

my diagnosis

It all started in 2022 when I noticed a white lump in the back of my throat and went to the doctor thinking it was strep throat. From January to April, I didn’t see an ENT specialist, trying to figure out why this swollen bump wouldn’t go away, even after multiple doses of steroids. In May, I realized that Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a type of non-hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) Affects white blood cells.

Ironically, after years of having light brown hair, I finally started on my path to blonde hair, reaching the perfect golden shade a week before I was diagnosed. I caught my cancer early, and everyone from my doctors to well-meaning friends told me it was a good thing.” This means my outcome will likely be positive and I will remain in remission after treatment. People automatically categorize me as a “cancer warrior”” category, but dealing with the diagnosis and starting treatment could be anything but easy. My body experienced asthma due to blood clots and cancer, to name a few. Despite all this, I survived six rounds of chemotherapy and had one final PET scan while in remission. I went to get tested and after 2 weeks the doctor said everything was good and I would see him again in 3 months.

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it was very After 12 emergency room visits, one collapsed lung, and visits to numerous specialists, the situation became surreal. Medically speaking, I cleared Although he was able to return to society, his mind and body were in tatters. My bald head and eyebrows were the most obvious sign that I was still healing. I desperately counted the days when my hair was below my shoulders, or reached below my shoulders. vomited Creates a messy pan without the need for pins to secure flyaways that are still growing. I regularly dreamed of sitting in a colorist’s shop chair, Hoyle hopes foil will put an end to neon ‘cancer patients’” Signs that tell me my hair (or lack thereof).

“People automatically categorize me as a ‘cancer warrior.’ category, but dealing with the diagnosis and starting treatment could be anything but easy. “

Hair removal and cancer treatment

Hair loss is a common side effect of chemotherapy; Beth N. McClellanMD, and Director of Supportive Oncologic Dermatology Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer CenterHair loss occurs during treatment because chemotherapy works by attacking rapidly dividing cells, such as cancer cells. ”Unfortunately, some normal cells that divide rapidly can also be affected, such as hair follicles, which are the second-fastest dividing cell the body produces.” Dr. McClellan says.

The most common is side effects Symptoms of chemotherapy include fatigue, nausea, mouth sores, loss of appetite, and hair loss, but these symptoms vary from person to person. “Hair loss typically occurs within the first few weeks and grows back over a period of several months after a patient’s last treatment, but some other cancer treatments may affect hair texture and color. Some cause hair thinning rather than complete hair loss.” Dr. McClellan says.

Hair follicles go through four stages within the growth cycle. These are the anagen (anagen) phase, the catagen (intermediate) phase, the telogen phase (when the hair stops growing and rests within the hair follicle), and the extrinsic phase (when the hair falls out). “Certain chemotherapy treatments can cause immediate shedding of anagen hair, a type of hair loss called anagen effluvium.” explain annabell kingsleyConsultant Trichologist and Brand President philip kingsleyThis means that your hair will grow back after chemotherapy is complete, but the treatment may cause your hair to come back with a different texture or color, which can also be an emotional challenge for some people. “For many people, it’s not uncommon for hair to become curlier, less pigmented, or slightly lighter. However, initially after chemotherapy, everyone’s scalp and hair become more fragile. Masu.” Kingsley says.

For me it took About 4 months left until birth completely bald Crew cut with thin eyebrows. But I was overjoyed because I was able to go about my daily life in public and no one pitied me twice. Indeed, I was very It’s a far cry from the mid-back length it used to be, but it was a start. I’m not the first person to experience hair loss due to cancer, there are many others. forum There are people online offering advice and lists of do’s and don’ts to promote hair growth. In my experience, I have learned that some people dye their hair immediately after treatment, while others decide to keep their hair short and not dye it.

dyeing hair after chemotherapy

I Really I wanted to dye my hair because I thought that if I looked at the way I was before chemotherapy, I would be able to deal with the trauma of cancer more quickly. Despite this desire, I knew I had to be careful. Really I wanted to go back to “normal”” My life was full of regular color appointments, so I couldn’t rush things. That meant not letting my hair grow for up to eight months before taking the plunge.

Rogelio CavalcanteThe stylist and owner of The Second Floor Salon always tells her clients to wait six to eight months before using chemical color on their regrown hair, as chemotherapy makes the scalp and hair more sensitive and fragile. He said he was giving advice. To ensure that your hair and scalp are ready for coloring, most experts recommend allergies. patch testYour colorist will apply a small amount of dye behind your ear and see if a reaction occurs within 48 hours.

this This is especially important for people who have undergone chemotherapy. semi-permanent Hair dye contains paraphenylenediamine (PPD), a chemical that is a known irritant and allergen. the This is a common cause of most reactions, especially when it comes to brunette and black shades, and dark dyes contain more levels of it, so it’s possible for anyone to have an allergic reaction to it. There is a gender. Cavalacante also warns against dyes that contain bleach and peroxide to avoid unnecessary damage.

“For everyone else, it was just another day at the salon. For me, it was a real step towards ending my battle with cancer and feeling like myself again.”

However, this is not a problem if your scalp is not completely healthy. Before the chemotherapy, I had developed redness around my hairline, but the chemotherapy caused this to flare up again, along with peeling and itching. “If your scalp isn’t healthy, your hair won’t be healthy either.” say Marisa Garshick Doctor of Medicine, board-certified dermatologist. “Start with something mild and sulfate-free.” shampoo and conditioner To keep your hair moisturized, avoid excessive use of heat styling tools and choose the following: natural drying To minimize damage,” she says.

Fortunately, my scalp problem did not come back. And by all accounts, I was a prime candidate to start coloring again. To be precise, after waiting 622 days, I was finally able to step into this world. new york team I went to Fifth Avenue to dye my hair. For everyone around me, today was just another day at the salon. For me, it was real progress and showed me that my battle with cancer is over and I can feel like myself again.

In preparation for this appointment, I had a haircut three weeks ago and had both the stylist who cut my hair and the colorist approve that my hair and scalp were strong enough for the service. . I was deciding between glaze And balayage service. “Glazes are generally ammonia-free and do not penetrate deeply into the hair. Rather, they coat and smooth the cuticle, giving hair shine and shine.” Michelle Hongcolorist and founder of NYC the Team, explained to me. Glaze finishes typically fade after about 8-10 washes, so I chose ammonia-free dyes and balayage with low peroxide levels to keep my hair as healthy as possible after coloring. My hair handled the color so well that my colorist told me to keep with my current routine and consider adding color. hair SPF My fresh color with the sun shield finishing spray This is to protect it from environmental elements.

How I felt when I left the salon 90 minutes later writer both both literally and figuratively. To everyone else, I was just a woman with fresh colors and bouncy callouts to match. For me? That was far more important. My new hairstyle doesn’t say anything that says “former chemotherapy patient.”‘ All those experiences are in my memory. My hair may not be what it once was, and neither am I. But this version of me is forced To stop worrying and giving in to fear, I started marking my next color appointment on my calendar before I left the salon.

final thoughts

It was truly surreal walking home with my hair flowing in the golden hour light. Going through the treatment and all the complications made me very anxious. If you have lymphoma, the chance of recurrence is very high, so you will need to see your doctor regularly for the next five years. Many survivors report feeling symptoms that were previously diagnosed. I’m afraid Their cancer will come back.

Indeed, when your throat burns or your arm hurts for too long, it really does feel like you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop. However, this kind of experience is possible by Finally Getting the hair color I’ve been looking forward to for so long and putting that fear to rest is something I’m always looking for and grateful for. Looking in the mirror reminds me that I am on the road to recovery and that everything will be okay.